Rhinoplasty and septoplasty are both types of nose surgery, but they address different concerns. A septoplasty improves breathing function by straightening the septum, while a rhinoplasty can involve both the interior structures of the nose and its outer appearance. Here are 4 differences you should know between these 2 “nose job” procedures.
1. Purpose
Rhinoplasty covers a wide range of goals, from smoothing a dorsal hump to refining the nasal tip to opening a blocked airway. Septoplasty addresses a deviated septum only and may be combined with other procedures to correct nasal issues.
2. What Each Procedure Changes
Rhinoplasty reshapes the bone, cartilage, and skin on the outside of the nose, while septoplasty stays entirely internal. It trims and repositions septal cartilage and bone without touching your outer appearance at all.
3. Insurance Coverage
Insurance rarely covers rhinoplasty alone, since it’s usually considered cosmetic. Septoplasty is often the exception: If you can document a genuine breathing obstruction, coverage is common.
In a combined septorhinoplasty (“functional” rhinoplasty) procedure, coverage may only extend to the medically necessary portion. During your consultation, we will walk you through what your plan is likely to cover and the financing options available to help with the rest.
4. Recovery
Because it doesn’t treat the outer nose, septoplasty recovery tends to be quicker than cosmetic rhinoplasty and involves less visible swelling. Rhinoplasty recovery, meanwhile, involves a nasal splint to protect the nose and comes with longer physical and social downtime and a longer healing period (about 1 year for full tissue refinement vs. 6 months for the internal structures to heal).
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Both male patients and female patients can undergo nasal surgery, provided they’re healthy, have realistic expectations, and can commit to the recovery period.
Younger patients can have rhinoplasty as early as 15 to 16 for girls and 17 to 18 for boys, once their noses have finished growing. However, there’s no strict upper age limit, and many older patients have surgery safely.
Which Procedure Is Right for You?
If your nose looks the way you want, but your breathing is the issue, septoplasty alone may be enough. If you want a change in your nose appearance, function, or both, rhinoplasty (with or without septoplasty) may be the better fit. I’ll help you determine the best procedure for you at your consultation.
Request a consultation using the online form or call North Raleigh Plastic Surgery at 919.532.2270 to get started.
